Besides AMD, injections can treat other conditions affecting the light-sensitiveretina, such asdiabetic retinopathyandretinal veinocclusions (blockages).
Beyond wet AMD, eye injections help treat:
Are Eye Injections Painful?
While the idea of an eye injection may be alarming, it usually is not painful.
Abraham Gonzalez Fernandez / Getty Images
Cost of Eye Injections
Eye injections typically come with a significant price tag, although not always.
The anti-VEGF agents Eylea (aflibercept) and Eylea HD cost around $1,850 - $3,200 per dose.
Still, it is much less expensive at just $50 or $60 a dose.
All FDA-approved treatments offer financial assistance programs that may lower your costs.
For instance, Eylea has the EYLEA4U program.
Consult with your doctor to determine your eligibility.
Eye Injections vs.
Here’s what to consider.
Pros
Intravitreal injections can be sight-saving.
Study results show that over 90% of people receiving anti-VEGF injections maintained their vision.
Receiving Syfovre or Izervay can slow the progression of geographic atrophy but does not reverse it.
Meanwhile, for drops, the big advantage is patient appeal.
The thinking is this could translate into increased compliance with treatment.
Cons
While eye injections are usually considered safe, there can be complications.
The best way to prepare is to understand the process clearly.
They will also clean the eye surface with an iodine solution.
After numbing the eye, the ophthalmologist will determine where the injection should go.
Usually, this will be on the lower part of your eye near your ear.
They will likely ask you to look up so they can inject the medication here using a tiny needle.
That’s completely normal.
After completing the injection, the ophthalmologist will examine and clean the eye.
You may also need to use antibiotic drops for a few days to prevent infection.
double-check you have someone available to drive you home immediately after the procedure.
If you are receiving Syfovre injections, you will need these every 25 to 60 days.
Izervay is given monthly.
The injections themselves can slow AMD, as well as geographic atrophy, and help to preserve vision.
The American Society of Retinal Specialists.Intravitreal injections.
2018;10(10):CD007419.
doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007419.pub6
Bright Focus Foundation.Injections for wet macular degeneration: What you’re gonna wanna know.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Expensive drugs.
Review of Optometry.First geographic atrophy drug approved.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.New treatments for macular degeneration.
Bright Focus Foundation.Can macular degeneration be reversed?
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Eyedrop for AMD.
Texas Retina Associates.What to expect from an eye injection.
2016;5(2):183-190. doi:10.1007/s40123-016-0058-2
National Eye Institute.Injections to treat eye conditions.
Food and Drug Administration.Syfovre.
